What are wildfires?
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that can rapidly spread through vegetation, threatening ecosystems, infrastructure, and human lives.
Most wildfire ignitions are caused by human activity, including sparks from power lines or railroads, but they also occur naturally under certain climatic conditions. Prolonged dry spells particularly increase the risk of wildfires, but also other factors, such as rain and wind patterns, vegetation, landscape structure, and forest management practices, largely impact the risk of wildfire outbreaks.
While regular natural fires are beneficial in many ecosystems (e.g., contributing to biodiversity and forest regeneration), the intensity and frequency of damaging wildfires are growing. Mediterranean regions have long dealt with wildfires, but climate change is now increasing the risk of wildfires all across Europe.
Climate Adaptation Actions & Resources
Action 1: Understand your risk
Start by understanding your flood risks with data maps and tools.
The ThinkHazard! tool allows you to quickly assess the wildfire risk in your area by simply typing the name of your location.
European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS)
The Joint Research Centre (JRC) and the European Commission set up the European Forest Fire Information System (EFFIS), which provides comprehensive information on wildfires in Europe. It includes real-time wildfire monitoring, long-term fire weather forecasts, and wildfire risk mapping based on impacts to people, ecosystems, and economic assets. It also provides current and historical wildfire data and statistics across Europe.
Action 2: Explore what others are doing
Explore how other regions or local communities are responding to the challenge.
 Meteorological stations installed in the two pilot areas. CALCHAS project | Cyprus and Greece are using an Integrated Forest Fire Analysis System to address the rising wildfire risk in Mediterranean forests. |
 Distribution of trees within a forest plantation close to the Occhito Lake. Giovanni Santopuoli | Managing wildfires through communities of practice Occhito Lake is using innovative environmental and forestry planning to improve the collaborative governance mechanism as well as the protective and environmental functions of the forest. |
 Forest Fires Sweden Fire Rescue Service in Bergslagen, Sweden | Detecting forest fires through a real-time satellite-based system Sweden uses a fully automated system that supports early detection and localisation of wildfires, allowing for faster responses and helping to prevent fires from spreading. |
Find these and many other examples in adaptation stories.
Action 3: Implement concrete actions
Start planning concrete actions to address your unique challenges.
The European Commission Expert Group on Forest Fires published a guidebook on land-based wildfire prevention with principles and experiences on managing landscapes, forests and woodlands. The guidebook highlights prevention measures for national, regional and local levels to make landscapes and communities more resilient to wildfires. It also lists concrete examples of measures implemented in the EU.
 The Diamond-lido and the Grosics Gyula Stadium Municipality of Tatabanya | Establishment of early warning systems Like in Tatabánya, Hungary, where a fire-weather index helps the fire brigade prepare for and respond to wildfire events. |
 Water supply infrastructure for animals CIM Viseu Dão Lafões, Life Landscape Fire Project | Adapting fire management plans Like the integrated approach of prescribed fire and grazing to make forests climate resilient and prevent severe fire events in Viseu Dão Lafões, Portugal. |
Action 4: Assess planned actions
The REGILIENCE self-assessment tool can help avoid negative effects of adaptation actions which increase vulnerability, diminish well-being or undermine sustainable development. It’s available in 10 languages!
Action 5: Find funding opportunities
Find the right funding sources for your needs.
Access information on funding sources from EU institutions, agencies, and Member States in the Mission Portal´s funding database to support your flood adaptation strategies.
Action 6: Download the Quick Guide for Wildfires
Wildfires are uncontrolled fires that may rapidly spread across vegetation, threatening ecosystems, infrastructures, and human lives. Most wildfire ignitions are caused by human activity, including sparking from power lines or railroads, but also occur naturally under given climatic conditions. Learn about concrete actions that can be implemented on the ground to tackle wildfires.
Major wildfires in recent years
2022
In 2022, nearly 900,000 hectares of land burned. Fires occurred in all EU Member States and were mapped in every country except for Luxembourg.
2023
The largest single wildfire in EU history burned more than 96,000 hectares of land in Alexandroupolis, Greece.
2025
The European Union experienced its worst wildfire season on record in 2025, with 7,783 fires across 25 countries. Conditions intensified dramatically during a prolonged Mediterranean heatwave, triggering 22 major fires in Portugal and Spain alone.